How to Avoid
New Airline Fees;
No 'Free' Ticket

By

Ron Lieber Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Updated Sept. 7, 2004 12:01 a.m. ET

Don't swear off human contact just yet.

AMR Corp.'s American Airlines last week matched Northwest Airlines' decision to impose new fees on customers who buy their plane tickets by calling the company or purchasing them at the airport. Both carriers now charge $5 extra per seat to get tickets from a U.S. phone rep and $10 for each ticket purchased at the airport. The fees apply to both domestic and international tickets and also apply...